Another Congress overture to Nitish Kumar; Rs 4,130 crore under PMGSY

PATNA: In another instance of Congress reaching out to Nitish Kumar, the Union Rural Development Ministry has approved Rs 4,130 crore for the construction of 5,700 km of rural roads, highest allotment for the state in the past 12 years.

"The decision to allot the amount under Prime Minister Gramin Sadak Yojna ( PMGSY) in the current financial year was taken by the ministry in July," Union minister Jairam Ramesh told reporters here.

This is the highest allocation under the scheme to Bihar in the last 12 years (when UPA is in power at the Centre).

Out of the fund allocated in all 38 districts, 2,400 rural roads and 190 bridges would be constructed, he said.

Asked was it another instance of Congress reaching out to Nitish Kumar after JD(U) split with BJP, Ramesh replied in negative. "It is the right of the state," he said.

The minister said after taking charge of the ministry, he has galvanised implementation of schemes everywhere in the country.

Ramesh, who has come to Bihar for review of rural development works in naxal-hit West Champaran district, was talking to reporters at state Congress headquarters Sadaqat Ashram.

He later went to meet Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The minister said that out of the total fund, 80 per cent would be spent on road construction in 10 districts. These are Araria, Aurangabad, Darbhanga, Jamui, Kaimur, Madhubani, Nawada Sitamarhi, Rohtas and West Champaran, majority of which are affected by naxalism.

Ramesh said that his ministry was giving top priority to strengthen infrastructure and proper implementation of welfare schemes in 82 naxal-hit districts across the country.

The minister said he has already toured 50 such districts which include three Bihar districts of Jamui, Aurangabad and Sitamarhi. He will go to West Champaran district later in the day.

He said there are 36,400 slums (bastis) in Bihar which do not have link roads. After spending funds out of the current allotment, still 8,000 slums would be left without link roads, Ramesh said.

The minister said that if the state government showed activeness in the construction of rural roads, the Centre was ready for building roads in these 8,000 'bastis' also.

He said to maintain quality and check irregularities, the state government needed to have an Independent agency.